Death and Birth on Stage
By Julieta Sánchez June 27, 2008 San Miguel de Allende

Dance
Al Rachid’s Raks Alam
Dance of the Universe and guest dancers
Sat, July 5, 7:30pm
Teatro Santa Ana
Biblioteca Pública
Reloj 50A
100 pesos

“In the heat of dancing, the barriers between mind and body vanish, enabling dancers to grow and plunge into the world of great thoughts and feelings where they find themselves bathed in the frangance of transformation for which they have waited all their lives.

“…they learn to surrender to a higher force that lets them guess at the unity and wholeness of life…they come to nestle in the movements of the universe and in turn their own movements are reflected in the movements of the stars, the flowers, and the newborn child.” (from Grandmother’s Secrets—The Ancient Rituals and Healing Powers of Belly Dance, by Rosina-Fawzia Al-Rawi.)

For many dancers the experience is that of just being, some say they float on air, there are those who “get high” or become “possessed,” there is the kind that dies and rebirths, and so many similar experiences. These are the terms used by some fantastic dancers to describe what they feel when they set foot on stage.

One such outstanding dancer is Ricardo Campos, Al Rachid, director of Raks Alam, one of the best Arabian dance schools in Mexico. Trained by the best Arabian dancers from all over the world and a pioneer of his own teaching technique, Al Rachid has been awarded the highest form of recognition of its kind in the country: La Diosa Belly for his amazing talent and ability to teach.

Regarding stage, he says: “Each time is different and at the same time it’s just like the first time: adrenaline rushes trough my body and the anxiety begins to paralyze my legs but once on stage everything is left behind. I am one with the dance and the dance is one with the universe.”

This July 5, celebrate with us as Al Rachid and guest dancers from different lands that take you through the ebb and flow of death and birth on stage through the ancient, mystical, sensual and sophisticated art of belly dancing at its best.